A week ago Billy Dowling had been expecting to watch the Asia-Pacific Amateur Championship from his Gold Coast home, but the teenage golfer is now in the hunt for a start at the Masters and the British Open.
The 18-year-old was added to the 120-player field at Royal Melbourne on Monday following the late withdrawal of an international player.
Despite his lack of preparation, having never played on the sand-belt course before, Dowling has signed for two rounds that would make many a pro envious.
Dowling backed up an impressive opening round of three-under 68 with a two-over 73 on the tricky Composite course to sit in a tie for third at one-under.
He's the leading Australian after Jasper Stubbs faded in his second round, finishing with three straight double bogeys for a three-over 74 to be even, tied for seventh.
Three other locals - Jeffrey Guan, Max Charles and Harry Takis - were inside the top 15.
Taiwan's Chuan-Tai "Teddy" Lin posted a four-under 67 to jump to the top of the leaderboard at three under, alongside China's consistent Ding Wenyi who opened with rounds of 69 and 70.
Kazumi Kobori, who was five under after the first round, dipped after a run of four straight bogeys and ended Friday alongside Dowling and fellow Kiwi Jimmu Zheng after a four-over 75.
The winner of the tournament earns invitations to compete in the 2024 Masters at Augusta National and the British Open at Royal Troon, with Sydneysider Harrison Crowe taking the 2022 amateur crown and turning professional on the back of his breakthrough year.
Just out of school Dowling isn't thinking about such a move anytime soon, instead enjoying having a bit of fun playing the famous course which has hosted President Cup tournaments.
He had a double bogey on the par-three 11th, but bounced back on the 13th with a birdie.
"That was a bit of fun from the front there - I had an interesting lip-out for bogey and made double but bounced back pretty well, and made a birdie on 13 and parred the rest," said Dowling, who as a 17-year-old shot a 59 at Surfers Paradise Golf Club and is the current Queensland Amateur champion.
"I've enjoyed it - I think it's a really cool course.
"The style of play is a lot different, and I think even though I have not had a lot of time to prepare, I think I've done pretty well and I'm quite happy with the way I played."
